When the Transfer Window starts it’s usually the transfers in that the fans are most concerned about, but it’s also worth noting that players have to leave in order to balance the books or allow youth to move on up into the first team. So here is our roundup:
James Tomkins to Crysal Palace £10m
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In my opinion the biggest loss to our team so far this transfer window is centre back James Tomkins. In terms of first team Tomkins was not one of the main players, he lined up as our fourth choice centre back, but the fact he was an academy graduate made the sale especially painful to some West Ham fans.
£10m for our 4th choice centre back and the fact the player is now able to play first team football in the Premier League (which we couldn’t offer) means that everyone in this transaction has benefited. Crystal Palace have signed a centre back they know they can rely on.
Elliot Lee to Barnsley
Another academy graduate, but one who will leave with less emotion than Tomkins. Lee joins a list of West Ham players who have not lived up to their potential, with the goal away at FC Lusitans in the Europa League last year his only notable contribution to the side.
He’s shown glimpses of potential when out on loan, but I don’t think he’s cut out for the Premier League, and the Championship should be a more lucrative hunting ground for him.
Joey O’Brien to club unknown
Ah Joey. One of those players that just seems to stay in your team’s squad for an undeserved amount of time, but gets game time due to injuries and lack of squad depth. He always gave his all and it’s hard to fault him in that respect, it was just his lack of ability that always got to me. Like Lee I assume he’ll drop down a league, or into a relegation battle, to help find his level.
Stephen Hendrie to Blackburn (Loan)
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Not a permanent goodbye, but Stephen Hendrie has a lot to prove at Championship club Blackburn if he wants to have a future at West Ham as Aaron Cresswell’s understudy. He’s not had too much opportunity so far but I think he’s well below Cresswell’s level at the moment and a loan deal will do him the world of good.
Emmanuel Emenike and Alex Song (Back to parent club)
Two disappointing loan players from last season, and have both gone back to their parent clubs. Alex Song was someone I held a lot of hope for last season but he was a shadow of his former self at Upton Park. Emenike was meant to be a solution to our goal scoring issues, but apart from the one game against Blackburn he was ineffective and looked out of his depth.